Expandable folding table assembly with panels

ABSTRACT

The present subject matter discloses an expandable folding table with a first panel, a second panel, and a movable insert panel. The first panel is supported by a first frame, and the second panel is supported by a second frame. The first frame is expandable and is attached to a sliding rail device, which includes a fixed frame connected with a pivot device and a movable frame slidably arranged on the fixed frame. When it is in use, the movable insert panel can be arranged between the first panel and the second panel to extend the expandable folding table. When it is collapsed, the movable insert panel can be hidden under the first panel. The expandable folding table is convenient as it is foldable and extendable. Furthermore, the first panel can always be supported by the movable frame to enhance its bearing strength.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of CN Patent Application No.CN202111319089.4, entitled “Panels of Expandable Folding Table,” filedNov. 9, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference for allpurposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter is in the field of furniture design andmanufacture. More particularly, embodiments of the present subjectmatter relate to a structure of an expandable folding table with anextendable table top.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, many tables foldable panels. For example, a typical foldingtable can comprise two connected panels that can be unfolded whe it isuse. When the table is not in use, it can be folded to reduce thestorage and transportation size. However, although the traditionalfolding table can be folded, the table top cannot be expanded. Afterbeing unfolded, the length of the table top can not be adjusted orextended according to the number of needed seats. An example of such afolding table structure is disclosed in Chinese Patent No. CN207428721U.In particular, it discloses a fixed-length table with two foldingpanels. The folding table can be folded, but the table top cannot bestretched. After unfolding, the length of the table top is fixed andcannot be extended, and it cannot be adjusted according to the number ofitems placed or the number of people seated. Therefore, there is a needfor a table that is both foldable and expandable.

SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER

The present subject matter can solve the technical problem as describedherein by providing a folding table with an adjustable length in view ofthe present state of the art.

The technical solution adopted in the technical problem to be solved bythe present subject matter is as follows: an expandable folding tablethat comprises a first panel supported by a first frame, a second panelconfigured to be coupled with the first panel, the second panel beingsupported by a second frame, wherein the first frame and the secondframe are connected by a pivot device and can be folded around a pivotshaft of the pivoting device to achieve folding, and wherein the firstframe is expandable and is attached to a sliding rail device, whichincludes a fixed frame connected with the pivot device and a movableframe slidably arranged on the fixed frame, wherein the first panel isconnected to the movable frame through a fixed connection, and the firstpanel is configured to slide on the sliding rail device relative to thefixed frame, and wherein the fixed frame is attached to a movable panelthat can be horizontally arranged between the first panel and the secondpanel to extend the expandable folding table when it is in use, or canbe hidden under the first panel when it is collapsed.

According to some embodiments, the movable panel can be rotatablyconnected to a middle beam of the fixed frame, and the movable panel canbe foldable with a first board and a second board that is connected toeach other. Various mechanisms can be used to connect the first boardand second board. For example, the connection can be through hinges orthrough a flexible integrated hinge structure with rotatable thinnerplastic. This way, the movable panel, or the retractable insert panel,can be easily expanded or collapsed. When the movable panel is foldedand stored under the first panel, an attachment device can be placedbetween the first board and the second board to prevent them fromdetachment. For example, the attachment device can be a magnet to attachthe two boards to each other.

According to some embodiments, the fixed frame can be shaped like asquare or a rectangle. The fixed frame can include a longitudinal frontfixed beam and a longitudinal rear fixed beam, and a horizontal leftfixed beam and a horizontal right fixed beam, wherein the longitudinalfront fixed beam and the longitudinal rear fixed beam are respectivelyconnected to the front and rear of the pivot device, wherein thehorizontal right fixed beam is connected between the front and rear ofthe pivot device. Furthermore, the movable frame can include alongitudinal front movable beam and a longitudinal rear movable beam,and the longitudinal front movable beam and the longitudinal rearmovable beam are slidably arranged on the longitudinal front fixed beamand the longitudinal rear fixed beam. The middle beam can be alongitudinal beam connected between the horizontal left fixed beam andthe horizontal right fixed beam.

According to some embodiments, the sliding rail device further comprisesthe longitudinal front fixed beam and the longitudinal rear fixed beam,each being provided with fixed sliding rail grooves with rollingelements. The longitudinal front movable beam and the longitudinal rearmovable beam are provided with movable sliding rail grooves configuredto match with the rolling elements. Furthermore, a limiting structurefor limiting the movable sliding rail grooves on the fixed sliding railgrooves can be provided. According to some embodiments, the limitingstructure can include or more limiting blocks and limiting protrusionsto prevent the first panel's unlimited movement.

According to some embodiments, the rolling elements can be one of aroller, a bearing, a roller, or a combination thereof.

According to some embodiments, the first panel, the second panel, andthe movable insert panel can be blow molding panels. Furthermore, themovable insert panel has grooves to match with protrusions on the firstand second panels when the movable panel is inserted between the twopanels. For example, when the first panel and second panel are coupleddirectly, the lower side of the abutting surfaces of the two panels haveinterlocking grooves and protrusions to mate with each other. Meanwhile,the upper side of the abutting surfaces has a straight contact to ensurethe coupled table top appears to be flat and smooth. When the movablepanel is inserted between the two panels, the upper side of the abuttingsurface also has a straight contact, and the lower side can haveinterlocking grooves and protrusions or bumps. As such, the insertedmovable panel can securely interlock with the first panel and the secondpanel without causing warping or uneven table top. It can furtherimprove the structural stability of the coupled panels.

Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present subjectmatter include an expandable frame that comprises a movable frame and afixed frame that enables a panel to be slidable along with the movableframe. Meanwhile, a turnable and movable panel is installed on the fixedframe. When the table needs to be extended, the movable panel can behorizontally inserted between the first panel and the second panel toextend the folding table. Furthermore, when the table does not need tobe extended, the movable panel can be withdrawn and hidden under themain panel. Therefore, it will not affect the appearance and use of thefolding table. The expandable folding table is convenient as it isfoldable and extendable. Furthermore, the first panel can always besupported by the movable frame to provide bearing strength.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present subject matter is illustrated by way of example, and not byway of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present subjectmatter when the table top is not extended.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the first panel in FIG. 1 in anexploded view.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the disassembled first and secondpanels and the movable panel in the inverted view of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present subjectmatter after the first panel is pulled out.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the inverted view of FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the extended state of the table topafter the movable panel in FIG. 4 is unfolded and inserted.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the inverted view of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the first and second panels and themovable panel in FIG. 6 after being disassembled.

FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the embodiment of thepresent subject matter in a folded state.

FIG. 10 is another three-dimensional schematic diagram of the embodimentof the present subject matter in a folded state.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of FIG. 10 after the first panel isdisassembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present subject matter pertains to improved approaches for amulti-function expandable folding table assembly. Embodiments of thepresent subject matter are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 1-11.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present subject matter. It will be apparent,however, to one skilled in the art that the present subject matter maybe practiced without some of these specific details. In addition, thefollowing description provides examples, and the accompanying drawingsshow various examples for the purposes of illustration. Moreover, theseexamples should not be construed in a limiting sense as they are merelyintended to provide examples of embodiments of the subject matter ratherthan to provide an exhaustive list of all possible implementations. Inother instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form in order to avoid obscuring the details of the disclosedfeatures of various described embodiments.

The present subject matter will be further described in detail belowwith reference to the embodiments of the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1-8 , the expandable folding table includes foldabletable top 100, foldable table frame 200. Foldable table frame 200includes a first frame 3 a and a second frame 3 b, wherein each of firstframe 3 a and second frame 3 b is respectively connected to a firststand 2 a and a second stand 3 a, etc., in which:

According to some embodiments, the foldable table top 100 includes afirst panel 1 a, a second panel 1 b and a movable panel 1 c. The firstpanel la and the second panel 1 b have the same shape, size, orsubstantially the same size (as shown in FIG. 8 ). However, it is notlimited to the same size. According to specific needs, the first andsecond panels 1 a and 1 b can be adjusted. The movable panel 1 c can beinserted between the first and second panels 1 a, 1 b to extend thelength of the table top. There may be one or more movable panels 1 c,and the present subject matter discloses one movable panel as anexample.

In order to suit the outdoor use of the folding table, the first andsecond panels 1 a, 1 b, and the movable panel 1 c are hollow blow-moldedpanels (the concave structure at the bottom of the panels is omitted inthe figures). According to some embodiments, the opposite sides of thefirst and second panels 1 a, 1 b, that is, the lower parts of thebutting surfaces to be butted against each other, are integrally formedwith staggered grooves 14 and bumps or protrusions 13. Meanwhile, theupper side of the abutting surfaces has a straight contact to ensure thecoupled table top appears to be flat and smooth, while the lower side isfitted and butted with the grooves 14 and the bumps 13 between eachother.

Similarly, the left and right sides of the movable panel 1 c are thebutt surfaces that are respectively connected to the first and secondpanels, and the lower parts of the two sides are also integrally formedwith staggered grooves 14 and bumps 13.

As shown in FIG. 6 , when the folding table is open and extended, themovable panel 1 c is connected to the first and second panels 1 a, and 1b, the upper side parts of the butt surfaces are also flat butt joints,and the lower side parts are also fitted and butted with the grooves 14and the bumps 13. The bumps 13 on the first and second panels 1 a and 1b are fitted with the grooves 14 on the first and second panels 1 a and1 b, and the grooves on the movable panel 1 c are fitted with bumps 13on the first and second panels 1 a and 1 b. The aforementioned featurescan not only improve the structural strength of the coupled panels, butalso reduce the joints and ensure the flatness and aesthetics of thefoldable table top 100.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the movable panel 1 c is a foldable panel, whichcomprises a first board 101 and a second board 102 that are connectedtogether, and the connected parts can be folded in half. There can bemany mechanisms to connect the two boards. For example, the materialskin 103 shown in FIG. 3 can be used to connect the first board 101 andthe second board 102, i.e., a plastic joint has thinner material thanthe two boards'. It can also be connected through hinges so that themovable panel 1 c can be easily unfolded or folded. In order to preventthe folded first board 101 and the second board 102 from being detached,an attachment device can also be provided between the first board 101and the second board 102. The device can use a simple magnetic device.That is, the first board 101 and the second board 102 are respectivelyequipped with strong magnets 104 that can be attracted to each other, sothat the unconnected sides of the two boards can be firmly attractedtogether.

According to some embodiments, the movable panel 1 c is hidden under thefirst panel la when the table top does not need to be lengthened and isrotatably connected to the middle beam 313 of the fixed frame 31. Whenthe table top needs to be extended, after pulling the first panel 1 a,the movable panel 1 c can be rotated and inserted. After unfolding thefirst board 101 and the second board 102, they can be supported on thefixed frame 31, so that the movable panel 1 c can be locked between thefirst panel 1 a and the second panel 1 b. This way, the extension of thetable top is achieved, as shown in FIG. 4 -FIG. 6 . The front and rearsides of the movable panel 1 c are also provided with downwardlyextending flanges, which can cover the fixed frame 31.

According to some embodiments, foldable table frame 200 can mainlyinclude a first frame 3 a and a first stand 2 a connected to the firstpanel 1 a, and a second frame 3 b and a second stand 3 a connected tothe second panel 1 b. The first frame 3 a and the second frame 3 b areconnected by the front and rear pivot devices 4 a, 4 b and can be foldedaround the pivot shaft 41 and linked with the first panel 1 a and thesecond panel 1 b to achieve folding. Among them, the first stand, thesecond stand, the second frame, and the front and rear pivoting devicescan all adopt conventional structures and thus will not be repeatedhere. However, it should be noted that they can be modified with otherwell-known technologies except the embodiments as shown herein.

According to some embodiments, the first frame 3 a of the presentsubject matter is a retractable frame, which includes a fixed frame 31connected to the front and rear pivoting devices 4 a, 4 b and a movableframe 32 slidably arranged on the fixed frame. The movable panel 1 c ismounted on the fixed frame and can be rotatably opened. The first panel1 a and the first stand 2 a are fixedly connected to the movable frame32 and linked with the movable frame 32. A slide rail device is providedbetween the movable frame 32 and the fixed frame 31, so that the firstpanel 1 a can move back and forth on the fixed frame 31. When the tabletop is to be extended, only the first panel 1 a needs to be pulled awayfrom the second panel 1 b, so that the movable panel 1 c can be pulledout and connected to the second panel 1 b horizontally. This way, thetable top is in the extended state in which the first panel 1 a, themovable panel 1 c and the second panel 1 b are spliced together, asshown in FIG. 6 .

According to some embodiments, when the table does not need to beextended, the first panel 1 a and the second panel 1 b are butted,whereas the movable panel 1 c is folded and stored under the first panel1 a. Furthermore, the movable insert panel 1 c cannot be seen on thetable top, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 .

According to some embodiments, the fixed frame 31 is roughly in theshape of a square or a rectangle, which includes front and rear sidebeams 311 a and 311 b in the longitudinal direction (referring to thelongitudinal direction of the table top), and left and right fixed beams312 a and 312 b in the horizontal direction (referring to the widthdirection of the table top). The front and rear fixed beams 311 a, 311 bare respectively connected with the pivot seats of the front and rearpivoting devices 4 a, 4 b, and the right fixed beam 312 b is connectedbetween the front and rear pivoting devices 4 a, 4 b. In order toarrange the middle beam 313 of the movable panel 1 c longitudinally, itis connected between the left fixed beam 312 a and the right fixed beam312 b. A baffle plate is also extended on the fixed beam 312 b forsupporting and positioning the movable panel 1 c. The front fixed beam311 a and the rear fixed beam 311 b are both long strip-shaped plateswith a “[”-shaped cross-section, with the grooves on them are set asfixed sliding rail grooves 3111. A plurality of rolling elements 314 isarranged at intervals in the fixed sliding rail groove 3111. Accordingto some embodiments, the rolling elements 314 can be rollers, bearings,or rollers, etc., and are rotatably arranged in the length direction.

According to some embodiments, the shape of the movable frame 32 issubstantially the same as that of the second frame 3 b, and the maindifference is that the longitudinal front movable beam 321 a and therear movable beam 321 b are designed to be slidable structures matchedwith the fixed frame 31. Specifically, the front movable beam 321 a andthe rear movable beam 321 b and the front and rear fixed beams 311 a,311 b are matched with a long strip-shaped plate with a “]”-shaped crosssection, with the groove on it set as a movable sliding rail groove3211, which is slidably in contact with the outer circular rollingsurface of the rolling element 314 in the fixed sliding rail groove3111.

In addition, a limit structure is provided between the movable slidingrail groove 3211 and the fixed sliding rail groove 3111 to limit thedisplacement of the movable sliding rail groove 3211 on the fixedsliding rail groove 3111, which can limit the maximum pulling distanceof the first panel 1 a, to prevent infinite pullout. It can be realizedby the following structure: a limiting block 3112 is protruded on thelower side of the left ends of the front and rear fixed beams 311 a, 311b respectively, and correspondingly on the front and rear sides of theback of the first panel 1 a are raised to form a limiting protrusion 16that can collide with the limiting block 3112 . When the limitingprotrusions 16 on the first panel 1 a collide with the limiting blocks3112 on the front and rear fixed beams 311 a, 311 b, the first panel lacan no longer be pulled out, as shown in FIG. 5 .

According to some embodiments, the first stand 2 a is connected with themovable frame 32. When the first panel 1 a slides back and forth, themovable frame 32 and the first stand 2 a also move together. Therefore,the bottom of the first panel 1 a is always supported by movable frame32 and first tripod 2 a to ensure its bearing strength.

In addition, the expandable folding table can further include wheelmodules 8, bearing frame 6 and pulling rod 5, etc., which enable thefolded table to function as a cart (as shown in FIG. 9 ). When the tableis folded, the wheels 81 can be dissembled and stored in the cavitybetween the movable panel 1 c and the frame without excessive vibrationor shaking.

According to some embodiments, the limiting slots 15 are recessed on thebottoms of the first panel 1 a and the second panel 1 b, with the shapeand size matching the wheels, as shown in FIG. 11 . After the expandablefolding table is folded, the size of the entire table is only that ofone main panel, so the packaging volume can be greatly reduced. It cangreatly reduce packaging and transportation costs and is also convenientfor storage and carrying, as shown in FIG. 10 .

It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics andadvantages of various embodiments of the present subject matter havebeen set forth in the foregoing description, together with details ofthe structure and function of various embodiments of the subject matter,this disclosure is illustrative only. In some cases, certainsubassemblies are only described in detail with one such embodiment.Nevertheless, it is recognized and intended that such subassemblies maybe used in other embodiments of the subject matter. Practitionersskilled in the art will recognize many modifications and variations.Changes may be made in detail, especially matters of structure andmanagement of parts within the principles of the embodiments of thepresent subject matter to the full extent indicated by the broad generalmeaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Having disclosed exemplary embodiments and the best mode, modificationsand variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments while remainingwithin the scope of the embodiments of the subject matter as defined bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An expandable folding table, comprising: a firstpanel supported by a first frame; a second panel configured to becoupled with the first panel, the second panel being supported by asecond frame; wherein the first frame and the second frame are connectedby a pivot device and can be folded around a pivot shaft of the pivotdevice to achieve folding; and wherein the first frame is expandable andis attached to a sliding rail device, which includes a fixed frameconnected with the pivot device and a movable frame slidably arranged onthe fixed frame, wherein the first panel is connected to the movableframe through a fixed connection, and the first panel is configured toslide on the sliding rail device relative to the fixed frame; andwherein a movable panel is attached to the fixed frame so that it can behorizontally arranged between the first panel and the second panel toextend the expandable folding table when it is in use, or can be hiddenunder the first panel when it is collapsed.
 2. The expandable foldingtable of claim 1, wherein the movable panel is rotatably connected to amiddle beam of the fixed frame, and the movable panel is foldable with afirst board and a second board that is connected to each other.
 3. Theexpandable folding table of claim 2, wherein the fixed frame includes alongitudinal front fixed beam and a longitudinal rear fixed beam, and ahorizontal left fixed beam and a horizontal right fixed beam, whereinthe longitudinal front fixed beam and the longitudinal rear fixed beamare respectively connected to the front and rear of the pivot device,wherein the horizontal right fixed beam is connected between the frontand rear of the pivot device, wherein the movable frame includes alongitudinal front movable beam and a longitudinal rear movable beam,and the longitudinal front movable beam and the longitudinal rearmovable beam are slidably arranged on the longitudinal front fixed beamand the longitudinal rear fixed beam, and wherein the middle beam is alongitudinal beam connected between the horizontal left fixed beam andthe horizontal right fixed beam.
 4. The expandable folding table ofclaim 3, wherein the sliding rail device further comprises: thelongitudinal front fixed beam and the longitudinal rear fixed beam, eachbeing provided with fixed sliding rail grooves with rolling elements;the longitudinal front movable beam and the longitudinal rear movablebeam are provided with movable sliding rail grooves configured to matchwith the rolling elements; and a limiting structure for limiting themovable sliding rail grooves on the fixed sliding rail grooves.
 5. Theexpandable folding table of claim 4, wherein the limiting structureincludes one or more limiting blocks and limiting protrusions.
 6. Theexpandable folding table of claim 4, wherein the rolling elements areone of a roller, or a bearing, or a roller.
 7. The expandable foldingtable of claim 2, wherein the first board and the second board areeither connected by hinges or by a flexible integrated structure.
 8. Theexpandable folding table of claim 2, further comprising: an attachmentdevice between the first board and the second board when the expandablefolding table is folded.
 9. The expandable folding table of claim 8,wherein the attachment device is a magnet that can attach the firstboard and the second board to each other.
 10. The expandable foldingtable of claim 1, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and themovable panel are blow molding panels, wherein the movable panel hasgrooves to match with protrusions on the first and second panels whenthe movable panel is in use.
 11. An expandable folding table,comprising: a first panel supported by a first frame; a second panelconfigured to be coupled with the first panel, the second panel beingsupported by a second frame; a movable panel coupled to the first frameso that it can be horizontally arranged between the first panel and thesecond panel to extend the expandable folding table when it is in use,or can be hidden under the first panel when it is collapsed; and whereinthe first frame and the second frame are connected by a pivot device andcan be folded around a pivot shaft of the pivot device to achievefolding.
 12. The expandable folding table of claim 11, wherein the firstframe is expandable and includes a fixed frame connected with a pivotdevice and a movable frame slidably arranged on the fixed frame.
 13. Theexpandable folding table of claim 12, wherein the movable panel isrotatably connected to a middle beam of the fixed frame.
 14. Theexpandable folding table of claim 12, wherein the first panel isconnected to the movable frame through a fixed connection, and the firstpanel is configured to slide on a sliding rail device relative to thefixed frame.
 15. The expandable folding table of claim 11, wherein thefirst panel, the second panel, and the movable panel are blow moldingpanels.
 16. The expandable folding table of claim 11, wherein themovable panel has grooves to match with protrusions on the first andsecond panels when the movable panel is in use.
 17. The expandablefolding table of claim 11, wherein the movable panel is foldable with afirst board and a second board that is connected to each other.
 18. Theexpandable folding table of claim 17, wherein the first board and thesecond board of the movable panel are either connected by hinges or by aflexible integrated structure.
 19. The expandable folding table of claim17, further comprising: an attachment device between the first board andthe second board when the expandable folding table is folded.
 20. Theexpandable folding table of claim 19, wherein the attachment device is amagnet that can attach the first board and the second board to eachother.